Bahamas DInghy HENNING Floorboard Installation

 26 Sep 26:

We installed the floorboard in the Bahamas Dinghy today, the first step was to countersink the ols screw hole for new silicon bronze fasteners from Fair Wind Fasteners. The old screw was dome top and other random heads and I prefer to not have things sticking up where feet are shuffling around, so we went the countersunk route. We used #10 1 1/4 inch Frearson head screws.

The dinghy only had this one floorboard when we got it, and those are the only fastener holes we see in the bilge, so the design is interesting. It makes sense in this 10 foot dinghy that the only place one might want to step is along the centerline, anywhere else might tip us overboard. The build is sturdy as well, so we are taking a SWAG* that there were never any addition floorboards between the center floorboard and the risers. And it we like having access to sponge out any water that finds its way into the bilge.

The Assistant explored the Boat Works today, and we were pleased that he didn't find a burrow to hide in. When he got sleepy he jumped into his pet stroller and let me know he was ready to go back inside.

Log of HENNING

68 Years Later....

 26 Sep 26:

We got a message earlier this year, "My father stumbled upon your blog and noticed that you had written up a small piece a few years ago regarding the Sailing Surfboard.  When he was 12 years old he and his father built one, he is now in his 80’s. He has been looking for many years to see if he could find the plans again and saw that you had them at one time.  Do you still have a copy of these?  If so, would it be possible to get a duplicate from you?  Thank you for your help."

It took a while to find the plans in the archives and longer to put them in the mail, but they are on the way. We hope they find fun in Idaho!

These patterns will also serve as a good guide to develop the wooden Sunfish plans and patterns, a project we plan to complete in 2027, in time for the 75th Anniversary of the Sunfish in 2028.

Thrust Flight

 19 Aug 26:

This summer has been too hot to spend much time small boatin', and I have been busy working at my full time gig as Flight Safety Manager at Hampton University. On Aug 19 we welcomed a new flight training partner, Thrust Flight out of Addison, TX. The first two planes flew in today and they are beautiful! Can't wait to fly the Piper Archer TX with modern Garmin G1000 nxi instrument panel, but a student was even more excited than me and he hopped in to check out the new ride. 

Catboat

 16 Sep 26:

Boat Garage & Sail Loft

 15 Aug 26:

Skipper's Lugger has a warn spot when not out seeking prizes, and we keep most of our small boat sails in the gargare to deter critters.

Our first workbench was about the size of the desk with the pegboard. We've grown a bit.

Small Boat Workshop — Top 5 Tips

 06 Sep 26:

Small Boat Workshop — Top 5 Tips

1. Put everything in the shop on wheels. The master rule, stated outright: "Skipper advised me a long time ago to put everything in the shop on wheels, so we can rearrange the shop per project." Benches, carts, pegboard, dust rig, boat cradles — all on locking casters.
2. Take the tool to the work — and do the dusty work outside. Build rolling tool stations thet we can roll out the door so sawing and sanding dust never settles in the shop.
3. Set every work surface to one common height. Saw table, benches, and portable in/outfeed tables all match, so long stock is always supported at a comfortable working height.
4. Cyclone dust collection + real respiratory protection. Run a Dust Deputy ahead of the ShopVac (sander→side port, vac→top port) — the bucket catches the dust and the vac filter stays clean — and also wear an the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job.
5. A place for everything, and everything in its place: Pegboard and dedicated homes for tools & parts. Pegboard for hand tools and small parts at shoulder height, wall-mounted chargers to free the bench, and a wall "pattern library" for templates.

Top shop lore: Keep a "moaning chair" (per Howard Chapelle) — a chair to sit and think through the "oops" that just happened, sip some coffee and think through the next job before we start it.

And maybe the top tip we ever got, from Skipper's brother Rick..."Hire a Pro." If the task/tools/materials/methods start to exceed our brainspace, push the Easy Button and hire a Pro. 

Here is Rick calculating whether it will be more fun running over Skipper and calculating the tools/materials/methods/cost of buying a new prop. 

British Seagull Takes Flight

05 Sep 26:

I bought a British Seagull a few years back to get a chuckle out of Skipper, her family had one back in the early 1980s with their Drascombe Lugger...but not for long...it never ran right. Fast forward and we sold the latest Seagull to Two Boat Tim. He drove up from Okracoke to pick it up and we were very pleased to find out that he is a Seagull Whisperer and was very happy to get this clean motor with associated Whitworth tools. TBT said the key is to avoid running the motor at idle, and he plans to use the Seagull for his spare. We also donated Sunfish booms and sail to a group setting up a youth sailing program on the island. 

Ebenezer Rosenwald Schoolhouse

 26 Aug 26:

Another side quest we have is volunteering with our local Historical Society. A new project to restore a 1926 African American Schoolhouse has entered a new phase, we got a contract to begin stabilizing the chimney and put on a new roof. To ensure saftey, we installed a new hasp and lock today.

Bahamas Dinghy HENNING Gunwale Paint.

22 Aug 26:

Tape in prep for gunwale paint.

Rolled the paint with a short nap velour roller.

We weren't sure which parts to paint of the frames, so we did the gunwales and the frame tops.

Gerorge Kirby color See Red.

Stray shower came through.

Log of HENNING.

Bahamas Dinghy HENNING First Interior Coat

 16 Aug 26:

We put the first coat of George Kirby Custom mix on HENNING, we might call it not sure what we'll call the color yet..